Get Ready For The Filibuster Wars To Resume This Week In The Senate | ThinkProgress

Get Ready For The Filibuster Wars To Resume This Week In The Senate | ThinkProgress:

Ian Millhiser - "Ultimately, however, the question of whether any of the President’s three nominees — Pillard, Millett or federal trial Judge Robert Wilkins — get confirmed is likely to rest upon whether Democrats are willing to rally behind the nuclear option in the same way they did last July. When Democrats showed that they had the votes to nuke the filibuster in July, Republicans caved, and Democrats had to offer nothing more than a fig leaf to fill seven top jobs. It is likely that Senate Republicans will cave again if Democrats show the same united front — and if they don’t, Democrats will eliminate the filibuster on judicial nominees, which is an even better outcome!"

This is the new paradigm.  In order for elections to finally matter again, Democrats need to act like Republicans.  Lock step, arm in arm, using the majority they were given by the electorate, legislation can move, nominees can be approved and the government can function.

Is it hypocritical to use the filibuster rule change as a bludgeon to blackmail Senate Republicans?  Probably.... but changing a rule in a clubhouse like the Senate pales in comparison to blowing up the government of the most powerful nation on earth.

More work to do...